Wes Streeting warned winter pressures were still taking a huge toll on staff (Image: Getty)
across England remain “close to capacity” despite a slight fall in cases of the vomiting bug, health chiefs have warned.
Some 1,134 patients were being treated now wards for last week, down slightly from a record high of 1,160 the previous week.
However, the latest figure was still 150% higher than cases at the same point last year. And visits to the webpage on norovirus were up by 40% in the last week.
’s top doctor Professor Sir Stephen Powis warned strain on the health system remained intense.
He said: “While it is good news norovirus cases dropped, they remain extremely close to the all-time high reported last week so we can be under no illusions about the continued pressure staff are still facing.
Don’t miss…
“Hospitals remain close to capacity in part because of seasonal illnesses, and it is vital that people do everything they can to reduce the spread of what can be a deeply unpleasant illness.”
The NHS’s national medical director urged anyone with symptoms of norovirus to help stop the spread by washing hands frequently and avoiding mixing with others until two days after symptoms stop.
Sir Stephen added: “While pressures on hospitals remains incredibly high, people should continue to use NHS services in the normal way – using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attending A&E in life-threatening emergencies.”
Meanwhile, the number of flu cases in hospitals continued to fall with an average 1,656 patients in beds with last week, including 80 in intensive care, down 5.7% from 1,755 the week before. The number of patients with rose slightly — up 4% to 1,027 from 984.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the health service was “still not out of the winter woods, and I want to thank all NHS staff for their hard work in the face of substantial pressures on the health service”.
Don’t miss…
“We have taken important steps to reduce winter pressures this year, including getting doctors back on the frontline, rather than the picket line, and introducing the country’s first RSV vaccination scheme.
“Through the government’s Plan for Change, we will deliver the investment and reform required to turn our health service around, so it will be there for all of us when we need it, once again.”
Amy Douglas, Lead Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Norovirus cases are still exceptionally high and we are seeing the biggest impacts in health and social care settings, such as hospitals and care homes.
“Symptoms of norovirus can be more severe in older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised.
“If you have diarrhoea and vomiting please do not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others as you can still pass on the virus.
“Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where possible to help stop the infection from spreading.”